Growth continues at YUL in the first quarter of 2019

MONTRÉAL, May 9, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - ADM Aéroports de Montréal announced its operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019 during its annual public meeting. Passenger traffic at YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport climbed by 6.5% over with the same period last year while EBITDA increased by 36.6%.

Highlights – passengers

• YUL continues to welcome more and more passengers, with 4.7 million passengers in the first quarter of 2019 (+6.5%).
• All three activity sectors contributed to the growth. International traffic increased by 11.5%, the transborder (United States) sector grew by 3.6%, and the domestic sector climbed by 2.3% compared with the first quarter of 2018.
• With an expanding number of destinations, YUL remains Canada's most international airport as a proportion of its total passenger traffic.

Financial results at a glance: 

• EBITDA, indicator used by management to evaluate operational performance, totalled $89.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, up $24.0 million compared with 2018 (+36.6%).
• Consolidated revenues increased by 22.3% to $178.0 million in the first quarter. This increase is mainly attributable to growth in passenger traffic, increased revenues from commercial activities, and higher AIF rates.
• Operating expenses for the quarter were $59.2 million, an increase of $5.7 million over the corresponding quarter of 2018 (+10.7%). This variance is namely attributable to investments to maintain a high level of service for travelers as well as to implementation costs related to initiatives to enhance competitiveness.
• Capital investments totalled $39.3 million in the first quarter of 2019 compared with $24.3 million in the same period of 2018. Investments in YUL and the YMX Aerocity of Mirabel were financed by cash flows from operating activities, including airport improvement fees.

"The growth in passenger traffic seen at the beginning of the year is an indication of what is in store for us in 2019.The summer season promises to be busy, with as much if not more traffic than last year. YUL is proud to help showcase Montréal and contribute to making it an international destination of choice while participating in its long-term prosperity," said Philippe Rainville, President and CEO of Aéroports de Montréal.

All information about these financial results is available online.

In recent months, several initiatives have been deployed to enhance the passenger experience:

• Austrian Airlines began service to and from Montréal-Trudeau on April 29, officially making its first flight to Vienna. The Austrian carrier will offer flights all year long, with seven flights per week during the summer season.
• The cities of Vienna in Austria, Raleigh in the United States and Sydney in Nova Scotia are joining the new routes available from Montréal during the 2019 summer season. YUL currently offers a total of 151 destinations.
• On April 7, Aéroports de Montréal held the 7th edition of its Premium Kids event. This day allowed about 100 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or functional limitations to become familiar with the airport process so as to reduce their anxiety about flying.
• For the first time, YUL was awarded a prestigious 4-Star rating under the Skytrax World Airport Star Rating program following an independent audit. This fourth star recognizes the major investments made in recent years to modernize the airport's infrastructure and achieve the highest industry standards, as well as employee efforts to enhance the passenger experience day after day.

About Aéroports de Montréal

ADM Aéroports de Montréal is the airport authority for the Greater Montréal area responsible for the management, operation and development of YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport and YMX the International Aerocity of Mirabel.

SOURCE Aéroports de Montréal

Aéroports de Montréal, Public Affairs, 514 394-7304, [email protected]